WNYT.com

NYS targets gun law confusion

ALBANY - State officials are taking steps to clarify what seems to be wide ranging befuddlement caused by the rapid-fire passage of new gun legislation.

It took state lawmakers just one month from the time of the Newtown, Connecticut school massacre to approve sweeping gun legislation here in New York. Many lawmakers say they didn't have enough time to read through the bill before voting on it.

While that haste has lead to widespread perplexity, the state is setting its sites on the internet to help.

The long range goal of New York's new gun law is to make New Yorkers safer, in the short term, the aim is to make it as easy as possible to understand. That was the impetus behind the website: NYSAFEact.com, to answer questions.

"A lot of questions come from responsible gun owners who are wondering if their firearm is considered an assault weapon or whether they need to register," says New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico. "The questions come from private sellers wondering when the individual provisions of the law will go into effect."

If you can['t find the answer you're looking for on the website, you may want to try New York's gun hotline where you'll be able to speak directly to state police. They expect it to be fully operational by Monday morning.

The State hotline number is: 1 (855) LAW-GUNS, or in numbers 1 (855) 529-4867.